Film-treating apparatus



F. B. THOMPSON. FILM TREATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-16.1915. I

Patented Jam 20, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

H 1 W M H. A W N R IQW R R Q k m H f I 5% a g w% I N w x. W .Q A I Iv m A A A m, Q I II. I O I O m m WA 0 \W m,

F. B. THOMPSON.

FILM TREATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJG, I915.

Patented Jan.20,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F. B. THOMPSON. FILM TREATING. APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILE-D AUGJS, I9l5- Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I72 zevifOl? WZMeSseJ.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRICK B. THOMPSON, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FILM-TREATING APPARATUS.

1 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 20, 1920,

Application filed August 16, 1915. Serial No. 45,846;

This invention has for its object to pro vide an apparatus for treating photographic film tape such as is used in the tak ing and projection of motion pictures, and relates particularly to certain specific improvements over the construction shown and described in my application for Letters Patent SerxNo. 876030, filed December a, 1914.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of thekind specified in which the film is so carried and subjected to the action of the developing and fixin liquids, water and I fire-proofing compoun s, coloring solutions, etc., that both faces thereof are equally exposed to such action, and in which the continuous traveling carrier for such film tape is so geared to its actuating mechanism as to prevent any possibility of relative slippage .or entanglement o f such carrier and the film and which, furthermore, is so constructed and arranged as to maintain the'film under the predetermined tension at which it is fed to the carrier preparatory to subjecting the same. to the action of such liquids and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character defined in which all shrinkage in the film due to dryingthereof after being subjected to the liquids for developingand fixing the same may be automatically compensated for in the carrier at such points as may 'be necessary to prevent a buckling of the'carrier by reason of the shortening of the film due to suchshrinkage.

A further object of the invention is to provide film treating apparatus of the character set forth in which the film after being subjected to thefliquids as aforesaid, and

before passingint'othe drying chamber, is

wiped to remove all surplus moisture there-. from, whereby spotting thereof is prevented;

The invention may obviously be variously embodied and in the accompanying draw ings I have illustrated only a preferred em bodiment thereof.

In said drawings.

Figure 1is a vertical lon' itudinal section throu h that portion of t e apparatus in whic the film is subjected to the action of liquids.

b Fig. 2 is a plan of the drying cham- Fig. 3- is a fragmentary detail vertical section showing a sprocket and carrier chain employed, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4. is a detail section on the line H of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a detail section of an idle roll. or sprocket employed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a slightly modified forml of construction.

Fig. 7. is an enlarged detail section on the line 77 of Fig. 6 Y

My invention consists essentially in providing as a carrier for the film tape an articulate structure which is in some respects similar to a sprocket chain, but diifers in details of construction from such chains to adapt the same particularly to the purposes and functions to be performed,'such= articulate structure being particularly advantageous in that it permits all parts of both faces of the film tape to be equally exposed to the action of liquids and to drying fluids whereby the same is more uniformly and quickly treated than would otherwise be the case. This articulate structure is also Very advantageous in that it permits the use in conjunction therewith of sprocketwheels, or the like positively engaged therewith to prevent slippage or lost motion be tween the carrier and said driving 'mechanism, and in that it also permits of the use of such sprocket wheels or the like, engaging said chain, the surfaces of which have grooves of such depth as to cause the parts of the chain" engaged therewith and which engage the film tape to become completely embedded therein to a depth causing the film tape to ride free of the carrier overthe surfaces of said sprocket wheels thereby preventing a tension being imparted to the film tape due to the shortening of the spaces separating the film tape carrying bars of the chain as the latter passes over successive sprockets, whereby an insuflicient length of buckle the latter.

- porting frame for shafts 2 equipped with sprockets v which the sprocket chain l, constructed in accordance with my invention, is adapted to be trained; each of said shafts prefere ably carrying a plurality of such sprockets, or having a plurality of sprocket faces which would constitute the equivalent of a plurality of such wheels. The sprockets are maintained rigid with the shafts 2 in any suitable manner, and each of said shafts is further provided with a pair ofsprockets 5 over which the driving sprocket-chains 6 sprockets 7 spools l the apparatus,

are trained. Said shafts 2 are horizontally disposed and are parallel with each other and associated with each thereof is a plurality of free drums or spools 7 which are supported in the loops formed by the portions of the sprocket chains depending from the said sprockets 3. The said are removable at will and are preferably rendered relatively heavy so as to maintain the sprocket chain under a constant tension, whereby to insure engagement of the cross-bars thereof in the grooves on the sprocket wheels 3 to prevent relative slippage of said parts, and also imparting sufficient tension on the film tape to overcome any slight resistance to the feed thereof upon the carrier from a spool or reel.

As indicated in Fig. 1 the sprocket chain 4, of relatively great length and which is endless, is first passed over a sprocket 3 on anridle shaft 8 at one end of the apparatusand passes downwardly over .one of said or drums 7, thence upwardly over the next contiguous sprocket 3 on the same shaft,-whence it passes over the sprocket 3 at the contiguous end of the next contiguous direction over ing w th said spools or drums 7, and then zigzag from shaft to shaft successively until it reaches the other end of this portion of said chain passing alternately over the sprockets on all of said shafts and over the said idle drums on spools. 7 associated therewith.

At the last-named end of the apparatus,

- said sprocket chainv passes over an dle sprocket 9 and thence over a guideway 10 above the several shafts 2 back .to the first sprocket of the idle shaft 8. Here it is through all trained under one of the sprockets on shaft 8 and is then trained over an idle roll or spool '10 of larger diameter rotatably mounted on "a shaft l0 above the shaft 8. The said sprocket chain travels continuously, said shafts 2 being motor driven and geared together by means of the sprockets 5 and sprocket chains 6 to rotate at uniform speed at all times. v

Associated with the several shafts 2 are tanks 11 to 20' inclusive, for example,

of which the chain travels successively, the duration of its travel through any one of said tanks being regulated by the number of sprockets 3 and companion spools or drums 7 associated with the tank. The number of said sprockets may obviously be increased at will to secure'the best results in the treatment of the film. The relative arrangement and connection of the several tanks with each other is as follows:

The tank 11 is adapted to contain a film developing liquid and is equipped with a water jacket 22. The latter is' connected at its upper end with a source of supply of cold water, such as the service pipes of a building, and at its upper end by means of a pipe, with the lower end of the tank 20. This is in over-flow pipe with the next succeeding tank 19, and similar connections are made successively between the tanks 19 and 18; 18 and 17, etc., to the tank 15, which is similarly connected with the tank '12. From the upper end of the latter the water overflows into the sewer or other drain. The tanks 20 to 15 inclusive and the tank 12 are rinsing or washing tanks and the tanks 13 and 14: are fixing'tanks containing a photo graphic fixing solution such as hypo-sulfite of soda.

Thus the rinsing Water flows in a general direction opposite to the direction of travel of the film tape thereby causing the latter to first pass through that portion of the rinsing water containing the greatest percentage of fixing solution and finally through the tank or tanks containing Water turn connected by means of an in this relation by means of the cross-bars 25 and bolts 26,'the said cross-bars reinforcing and preventing bulging of the flat walls of said tanks while the close contact of the opsed walls of contiguousftanks with each other obviously prevents bulging'of the same by equalization of pressure on opposite faces of the same, thus enabling the use of .very much lilgrlgter material in the construction of said ta than would otherwise be possible.

This arrangement also materially reduces the radiating surface of the tanks thereby maintainingthe liquids contained therein at a more uniform temperature at all times.

The said groups of tanks are separated from each other by, a space and may be segregated from each other by a fixed par- 7 through the fixingliquid contained in the tank 13, as to be immune to injury by exposure to daylight or other bright light after leaving the same and passing into the welllighted space in which the tank 14, also containing such fixing solution, is situated.

This arrangement is very advantageous, as will be obvious, as it enables the film to be closely inspected and watched during the remainder of its travel through the apparatus without strain on the eyes of the operator, and this holds true also of the carrier and all of the operating mechanism.

The film tape is adapted to be connected at one end with one of the cross-bars of the chain 4 by any suitable means, but preferably I provide for this purpose the device shown in detail in Fig. 3- which will be hereinafter more particularly described. The film thus attached to the carrier is unwound fromv its reel at uniform speed and is then passed continuously successively through the several tanks and is then detached from said sprocket chain 4 and attached to a second sprocket chain 28 by means of which it is carried through the drier. Before being attached to the second chain, however, the film is trained by the operator over Wiping reels interposed between the developing and fixing portion of the apparatus and the drier; the said wiping means being particularly described and claimed in a copendin application filed of even date herewith, er. No. 45845. The relative construction and arrangement of the shafts and sprockets over which the chain 28 is trained in the drier is identical with the same arrangement in the developing and fixing portion of the apparatus; said carrier mechanism on which the film is carried for the purpose of drying'the same bein housed in a suitable compartment 29 is preferably heated andequipped with means for effecting forced passage of air therethrough andto impinge upon the film tape to promote drying of the latter to the end that the same may bedelivered from said apparatus perfectly dry and ready for use.

Thesaid sprocket chain 4 consists of links 30 each consisting of a short flat'piece of metal and alternating therewith are substantially triangular Links 31; the bases'of which are slightly convex. The pins or rivets 32 connecting the links 30 and 31 pass through the end portions of the former and through the corners of the latter contiguous to the bases thereof; said pins or rivets 32' being short,-that is to say, of just suflicient length to pass through the several thicknesses of metal which they connect, and the openings through which the same pass are preferably sufliciently large to provide a very free relative pivotal movement of said links 30 and 31 and also permitting distortion of the chain to a limited extent. The triangular links 31 are arranged in pairs, each 'pair thereof being connected by means of a cross-bar 33 which passes through the base portions thereof at a point below the plane of the pivotal connections thereof With the links 30 so that when the chain is straightened out a plane intersecting the axes of several of said cross-bars 33 will be parallel with but separated from a plane intersecting the axes of the several rivets .or

pins 32 connecting the said links 31 with the links 30, the last-named planes being disposed nearer the apexes of said links 31, and the apex portions of the latter being adapted to project outwardly from the sprockets 3 and 7 over'which said chain is trained.- The latter is made preferably of Monel metal which is known to be proof against the chemicals usually employed in developing though any other metal or material similarly adapted to the same'purpose may obviously be substituted without departing from the invention.

'Each of-the sprockets 3 consists preferably of a drum, the fare of which is provided with parallel annular grooves 34 bordering the longitudinally grooved surfaces 35, the longitudinal grooves 36 of the latter being adapted to receive the said crossbars 33 of the chain. The said links 30 and 31 are adapted to be received within the said grooves 34 and supported, or practically supported, upon the endsof the bars 33 engaged in the grooves 36 as the chain travels .over the said sprockets. Each of the grooves 36 is of a. depth greater than the diameter of the cross-bars 33 so that the latter will become disposed inwardly of the convex surfaces 35 and the latter thus brought in contact with the film tape to carry the latter outof contact with said cross-bars 33 of the sprocket chains. This obviously has theeffect especially at the point at which the film tape first passes over the sprockets, to throw a little more film upon the carrier than exactly corresponds with the length and fixing photographic emulsions,-

of the latter, thereby providing sufli'cient slack in the film tape to prevent the same at any time buckling the carrier and thus possibly interfering wlth the smooth operation of the device. The depth of the said. grooves 36 ,is preferably very slightly in excess of the diameter of the said cross-bars 33 so that the excess of tape fed will'be inlength of the chain -to the carrier as soon as the drier and start sufficient to provide sufficient slack to permit the side edges of the same to pass over the apexes ofthe links 31, the latter obviously acting as guides for theside edges of said film tape. v

It will be obvious, of course, that the sprocket chain or articulate carrier for carrying the film through the drying chamber may be continuous with the chain for passing the film through the tanks for treating the same, but I-have found that there is no advantage in so doing for the reason that the length of the film tape is such as to easily enable an operator to disconnect the forward end from the carrier for passing it through the tanks, then pass it over the wiping devices above referred to,

through the drier without in any way 1nterrupting the operation of the device' or delaying the attachment of the second film film has been taken up thereby; Thetotal for passing the film through the tanks is preferably considerably in excess of the greatest length of film to be treated so that there will be a considerable interval elapsing between the attaching of the front end of one film to the carrier to be taken up thereby from a reel, and until the forward end of the next preceding film will be delivered atthe other end of this portion of the apparatuspreparatory to its passage over the wiping devices and its attachment t0 the carrier for passing it through the drier. The carrier in the latter is also preferably of considerably greater length than the greatest length offilm ,tape intervals for the operator to detach the front ands of films successively from the carrier in thesame on the reel upon which such film is adapted to be wound. I

In order to facilitate attachment and de-' tachment of the film tape from the carriers "I preferably connect the forward end of the-tape-with the loop or link 41 engaged in the hook 42 at one end of'a late 43 made of relative thin sheet meta Monel metal). The latter is provided contiguous to one end thereof with a concavoconvex portion 44, the mouth of which is of very slightly less width than the diameter of the cross-bars 33 of the carrier, the latter being adapted to be sprung into said concavo-convex portion 44and be thus engaged therewith. This portion of the plate will easily pass over the sprockets 3 without causing the chain to be thrown out of engagement therewith, the convex portion being adapted to enter the grooves in the sprockets. The lip 45 of and then attach it to the carrier for passing the film.

the end of the first to be treated so that there will be sufli'cient (preferably of the film tape over the same,

said plate 43 is adapted to be engaged by the thumb as the links of the chain are grasped by the fingers to force said plate withthe chain.- The loop 41 is pre erably elastic, and, I have found that ordinary rubber bands are perfectly adapted to the purpose. The end of the film tape is folded over and pinned to form. a loop through the rubber band or link 41 in a well-known manner.

The film tape as it enters the drier is water soaked and expanded, and in drying it will shrink considerably so that as it progresses through the drying chamber it will become gradually shorter in direct ratio to its loss of moisture. Such shortening or shrinkage will gradually cause the said film-tape to be placed under a tension and owing to the fact that the same is rela t-ively strong and tough this action will cause it to lift the spools or drums 7 and will cause the portions of the chain between the same and the sprockets 3 to buckle. This is, of course, undesirable and may be avoided by the operator watching the film rather carefully and changing the position of-the attaching means or the point of attachment of the film to the chain or carrier at. intervals to compensate for the shortening or shrinkage thereof. As the operator can not always be at hand to watch this portion of the apparatus, it is preferable to provide means for automatically slackening the film.

While the film wiping device interposed between the film treating and film drying portions of the apparatus constitutes no part of the present invention except in so far as it acts in unison and combination with said parts to deliver the finished film from the apparatus, a brief description thereof will not be out of place.

Suitably rotatably supported in proximity to the sprockets of the film-treating portion of the apparatus is a padded roller 54 covered with chamois skin or buckskin or a similar material which will absorb water very easily and from .which the water is easily wrung. It is well-known that this.

material when wet affords a very slippery and smooth surface which is non-abrasive and, therefore, will not scratch or mar the film surfaces coming in contact therewith. Associated with said roller 54 and held in yielding contact therewith in a suitable manner by means of springs 55 is a roller 56 of metal or other suitable material, preferably hard and non-absorbent. The said roller 54 is rotated in the direction of travel though this is not essential, and at very slow speed.- During rotationthereof the said roller will take up the Water from the film surface in contact therewith and the action of the metal roller 56 is such as to wring the water out of out of enga ement the surface covering of the roller 54, thus rendering the surface of the latter sufficiently capable of absorbing all water that is delivered thereto by the film tape. The film tape after being passed over the roller 54 is passed over a spool or-drum 7 which may, if desired, be disposed in the bottom of a tank 57 containing glycerin or any other liquid which it may be desired to apply to the film, though preferably this tank will receive only the water wrung from the said roller 54. After passing overthe said spool or drum '7 in said tank the sensitized face of the film passes over a roller 58 similar to the roller 54 and similarlyhaving a metal roller 56 associatedftherewith, and passes then over an idle roll 59 and again over the said roller 54 at a point laterally of its first point of travel over the same; thus wiping from the back of the film during thesec- 0nd passage any drops of moisture which may have dropped thereon from'the wring, ing operation following its first passage over the said roller 54, The film then passes over a large drum 60 also covered with material adapted to still further dry the back of the film andis then attached to the chain or carrier for passing said film tapethrough the drier. v

In order to provide a maximum film treating capacity for a minimum of space, and

, also to economize on mechanism and labor,

I preferably provide two of said film treating apparatuses parallel with each other,

the shafts 2' and the connection with source of power, etc., being common to both thereof. This arrangement renders possible running two complete film treating apparatuses with fifty per-cent. more labor t an is required for one thereof.

The operation of the apparatus will be clearly understood from the foregoing description and the essence of the invention .gathered therefrom; it being understood, of course, that the construction of the embodiment illustrated and described may be changed and varied at will to suit the particular purpose for which the device is to be employed without departing from such invention as defined in the appended claims.

In Figs. 6- and 7 I have illus- 1 trated a slightly different embodiment of the invention in which all of the tanks for liquids corresponding to the tanks 11-20 in elusive of Fig. 2' are separated from each other by substantially equal spaces, and in which the shafts carrying the sprockets over which the chain is trained extend only over one set instead of two parallel sets of said tanks, it being obvious, of course, that such shafts may be extended as in Fig. 2 'to extend over parallel rows of said'tanks as will be obvious the operation of this em-- bodiment is exactly the same as that shown in Fig. '2, and further particular description thereof is, therefore, deemed superfluous;

The detail sectional view of the shaft, shown in Fig. -7 is the same in construction as the shafts employed in the structure shown in Fig. 2, the only difference being the particular form of-bearlng employed,

butthis detail ma obviously be changed and varied at will without departing from the invention and, therefore, this sectional view may be taken as exemplary of the construction of shaft and sprocket employed throughout.

The invention also comprehends the employment of means for raising all of the shafts, sprockets and parts connected therewith out of the several tanks 1l20 inclusive and to this end the standards and cross v rods supporting the bearings for these several shafts carrying the sprocket chains are upon the apparatus in actual use, though special description thereof has not been deemed necessary.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a film treating apparatus, a carrier for film tape consisting of a sprocket chain,

comprising articulate side portions comprising alternate links of different de th, and cross-bars connecting the links 0 greater depth 'on opposite sides of the chain with each other and affording a foraminous support for the film tape, the pivotal oonnections between the links of said articulate side portions being loosely made to permit free relative pivotal movement of said links and permittinglateral distortion of the structure, whereby the same may be twisted to form a helix.

2. In a film treating apparatus, a carrier for film tape consisting of a sprocket chain comprising articulate side portions comprising alternate links of different depth, the said links of greater depth pivotally connected at opposite edges with the links of less depth, and cross-bars connecting the .base portions of the deeper links in the opposed articulate members wlth each other,

the horizontal planes intersecting said crossbars, and the ivots of said links respec tively being parallel and separated from each other by an appreciable space.

3. In a film treating apparatus, a carrier for film tape consisting of a sprocket cham comprising articulate side portions comprising alternate links of different depth, the said links of greater depth pivotally connected at opposite edges with the links of less depth, and cross-bars connecting the base portions of the deeper links in the opposed articulate members with each other,

the horizontal planes intersecting said crossbars and: the pivots of said links respectively, being parallel and separated from each other by an appreciable space, the plane of said cross-bars being disposed nearer adjacent the base edges of said deeper links than the plane of said pivots. i. In a film treating apparatus, a carrier for film tape including a sprocket chain comprising parallel articulate structures connected together floy means of parallel cross-bars at intervals, and sprockets engaging said cross-bars to impart movement to said chain, the grooves of said sprockets receiving said cross-bars being of greater depth than the diameters of the latter whereby to cause the faces ofsaid sprockets to throw the film-tape carried by said cross-' bars out of engagement with the latter as. the same enter said grooves.

51- In a film treating apparatus, a carrier for film tape including a sprocket chain comprising parallel articulate. structures connected together by means of parallel cross-bars at intervals, and sprockets engaging said cross-bars between said articulate structures to impart movement to said chain, the grooves of said sprockets receiving said cross-bars being of greater depth than the diameters of the latter whereby to cause the faces of said sprockets to throw the film-tape carried by said cross-bars out of engagement with the latter as the same enter said grooves, there being annular grooves in said sprockets communicating with said longitudinal grooves and adapted to receive said articulate members.

6. In a film treating apparatus, film feeding means including a plurality of parallel driven shafts each carrying a plurality of sprockets, an articulate film carrier 7 trained successively over the several sprockets on each shaft, and an idle roll associated with each two adjacent sprockets of:

each shaft, and an idle roll associated with I each two adjacent sprockets of each shaft and each suspended in a loop of the carrier, said carrier adapted to maintain one face of the film tape carried thereby opposed at all times to the faces of the sprockets and idle rolls.

8 A film treating apparatus including a serles of'parallel horlzontal shafts adapted to be simultaneously rotated 'at uniform speed, a plurality of sprockets of equal pltch-diameters on each of said shafts, an

articulate carrier for film tape trained successively over all of said sprockets or said shafts from end to end of the same, and

thence over all of the sprockets of the next succeeding shaft in the opposite direction,

idle rolls alternating with the sprockets of each shaft and suspended in loops of said carrier depending from two of the sprockets of each shaft for maintaining said carrier taut and engaged with said sprockets.

9. In a film treating apparatus, a plurality of shafts each carrying a plurality of sprockets, all of said shafts being parallel and. adapted to be driven simultaneously at uniform speed and all of said sprockets on said shafts being of equal pitch diameter, an articulate carrier trained successively over all of the sprockets of each shaft "consecutively, and idle rolls suspended in loops of the carrier sprockets, said idle rolls alternating with the sprockets of each shaft over which said carrier is trained.

In testimony whereof I have si ed my name in presence of two subscriblng wit- Witnesses:

M. M. BOYLE, ANDREW SMITH.

depending from said 

